Students from government and private polytechnic institutes across Bangladesh staged coordinated demonstrations today (April 19) under the banner of ‘Rise in Red’, demanding sweeping reforms in the technical education sector.
The protests began at around 12:15 pm in front of the main gate of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute in Tejgaon, with students forming a human chain while holding placards and chanting slogans.
Demonstrators also staged similar programs in front of their respective institutes across the country.
Slogans included: “Blood is on fire,” “Abu Sayeed and Mugdha, the war is not over,” and “Why the attack on Comilla, we demand answers.”
On Friday, many students marched with white shrouds tied around their heads, symbolising what they described as a fight for justice and dignity.
The protests follow a meeting on Thursday between student representatives and the Additional Secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division at the Ministry of Education.
Students later expressed frustration over the outcome, saying their core concerns were left unaddressed.
On Wednesday, polytechnic students blocked Dhaka’s busy Satrasta intersection from 10am to 6pm, putting forward a six-point charter of demands.
The six demands at a glance:
Cancellation of Instructor Promotions: Students are calling for the revocation of a 30% promotion quota allowing craft instructors to be promoted to junior instructor posts. They also demand that the High Court verdict validating these promotions be overturned, and that those involved in alleged irregular appointments in 2021 be dismissed.
Admission Reform and English Curriculum: Protesters want to abolish the open-age admission system for Diploma in Engineering programs. They are urging the government to introduce a four-year standard curriculum aligned with international models and gradually implement English as the medium of instruction.
Protection of Job Grades: Legal action is being demanded against government and semi-autonomous organisations allegedly appointing diploma engineers to positions lower than their qualifications, in violation of established job grade designations.
Technical Manpower in Leadership Roles: Students want a legal framework to ensure that leadership and administrative roles in technical education — such as directors, principals, board chairs, and exam controllers — are filled by individuals with technical education backgrounds.
Creation of a Technical Education Ministry: The students are pushing for an independent Ministry of Technical and Higher Education along with the formation of a Technical Education Reform Commission to modernise and oversee the sector.
Establishment of Technical Universities: A demand has been made for a high-quality technical university to ensure higher education opportunities for graduates of polytechnic and monotechnic institutes. Additionally, the protesters want full admission quotas for such graduates in the four upcoming engineering colleges in Narail, Natore, Khagrachari, and Thakurgaon — with temporary campuses launched under DUET in the interim.
The student-led movement marks a significant escalation in frustration over long-standing grievances in the country’s technical education system.
No official response to Saturday’s demonstrations had been issued by the Ministry of Education at the time of filing this report.
BDST: 1328 HRS, APR 19, 2025
SMS
